The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Superboy, Supergirl:
Oh, I’ve got a question for Superworld
What gets you through?
Who gets you past?
And how do you, fly so fast?
Oh, is it the fame?
Cause everybody knows, who you are?
Well, it can’t be the same
Cause I hear you’re from outer space, pretty far
Superboy’s got his problems,
And Girl’s got her hang-ups
And I know that it can’t be easy to be
Superboy in a messed up world, these days
Or a Supergirl in a thankless world, these days
(x2)
Bu-bu-bup, bu-bu-bup (etc)
I said, “Please don’t let them get you down,
Because you’re the only superheroes in our town.”
(x6)
Oh, I’ve got a question for Superworld
What gets you through?
Who gets you past?
And how do you, fly so fast?
Oh, is it the fame?
Cause everybody knows, who you are?
Well, it can’t be the same
Cause I hear you’re from outer space, pretty far
Superboy’s got his problems,
And Girl’s got her hang-ups
And I know that it can’t be easy to be
Superboy in a messed up world, these days
Or a Supergirl in a thankless world, these days
(x2)
Bu-bu-bup, bu-bu-bup (etc)
I said, “Please don’t let them get you down,
Because you’re the only superheroes in our town.”
(x6)
Lyrics submitted by mmkg_28
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
At first, the way that the singer's voice went flat/out of tune at the end of certain lines REALLY irked me, however, I've come to really like this song. It's very endearing and innocent =) So cute. Very "twee".
I believe the singer could be literally "talking" to a superhero and superheroine, and is impressed by their powers, but at the same time, is sympathetic/pitying of their situation because of the pressures put on them by others. He recognizes that both the Superboy and Supergirl have their own personal issues, and that it's difficult for them to live as they do without support/appreciation from the world (who demand their help but don't appreciate them).
BUT, I don't think this song is meant to be taken completely literally, as it could also be understood as a metaphor for politicians/celebrities/others in the public eye that have immense pressure on them from society. (We, as a public, tend to put so much weight on our politicians/celebrities, and don't recognize their struggles and their problems).
Anyways, Tullycraft singer in the end, ("Please don't let them...only superheroes in our town"), tells them that they are in fact needed and important and to not be effected by the negativity generated by us, the society.